What are plasmodesmata AP biology?

Plasmodesmata are the plant structures that are analogous to gap junctions in animal cells. Plasmodesmata are protein channels between the cell walls of plant cells. They facilitate communication and the transport of solutes and small proteins between plant cells.

What is the key difference between gap junctions and plasmodesmata?

Plasmodesmata are channels between adjacent plant cells, while gap junctions are channels between adjacent animal cells.

What is the function of tight junctions?

Tight junctions form the border between the apical and basolateral cell surface domains in polarized epithelia, and support the maintenance of cell polarity by restricting intermixing of apical and basolateral transmembrane components.

Which types of junctions seal cells together?

Three are different types of connecting junctions, that bind the cells together.

• occluding junctions (zonula occludens or tight junctions)
• adhering junctions (zonula adherens).
• desmosomes (macula adherens).
• Gap junctions.

Which is the animal cell equivalent of a plasmodesmata?

(The animal cell “equivalent” is called the gap junction.) The plasmodesmata consist of pores, or channels, lying between individual plant cells, and connect the symplastic space in the plant. They can also be termed as “bridges” between two plant cells. The plasmodesmata separate the outer cell membranes of the plant cells.

What are the functions of plasmodesmata in plants?

They serve to connect the symplastic space in the plant and are extremely specialized channels that allow for intercellular movement of water, various nutrients, and other molecules. Plasmodesmata function in intercellular communication, i.e., they allow molecules to pass directly from cell to cell.

How are gap junctions similar to plasmodesmata in plant cells?

Functionally, gap junctions in animal cells are a lot like plasmodesmata in plant cells: they are channels between neighboring cells that allow for the transport of ions, water, and other substances. Structurally, however, gap junctions and plasmodesmata are quite different.

Where is the desmotubule located in the plasmodesma?

The desmotubule possesses a rigid membrane that runs the length of the plasmodesma. Cytoplasm lies between the cell membrane and the desmotubule. The entire plasmodesma is covered with the smooth endoplasmic reticulumof the connected cells. Plasmodesmata form during cell division of plant development.